Learning Activity 6-C-1


Course: American History (1877-Present)
Grade Level: 8th
Unit: World War 2

Essential question(s):

What conditions did soldiers suffer through while captured in the Philippines during World War 2?

Objective(s):

  • Students will analyze primary source videography.
  • Students will gain experience working with primary source documents.

Materials:


Introduction:

  • Students will complete an overview reading passage about the fighting that took palce in the Philippines during the Second World War.
  • The class will discuss the events surrounding the fighting on Bataan and Corregidor.

Procedure:

  • Students will view the video The Story of Cpl. Jolley and will complete a NARA worksheet detailing their observations of the video. A transcript of the video will also be provided for the students to follow along with.
  • In groups of two, students will share their video analysis. They will then compare and contrast the results of their observations.

Conclusion:

Students will be provided with a set of questions to answer about the video:
  1. How does the video address the Bataan Death March?
  2. Is this video a documentary piece, a propaganda piece, or a combination of both? Explain your answer and provide support from the video.
  3. How does this video address the role of women in the American armed services during the Second World War?
  4. What specific information does this video provide about the fighting on the Philippines?
  5. What questions are you left with after watching this video?





Comments:


Rob, I like this lesson and often do similar activities with my student's. I am sure your students will enjoy seeing first hand accounts and it will really help them understand the Bataan Death March in a way that a textbook could not do. You have also come up with some excellent and thought provoking questions. I am envious that there are no first hand videos from the Revolution era. :)
Janine

Rob,
I am really impressed with this lesson and feel I can incorporate some aspects of this into my classroom, esp the video of Cpl Jolley. I especially like the set of questions used after students watch the video. You cover so many different historical elements with them. Thanks for the ideas.
Gloria

Rob,
This is definitely something I could use in my US history classes when covering World War II. I just heard something on NPR about how American allied forces in Afghanistan are being accused of killing nearly 2,000 Taliban fighters who had surrendered in late 2001. Apparently the fighters were put into sealed crates for transport. All the prisoners suffocated and allegedly were buried using bulldozers. If these things prove true, maybe a comparison of the two incidents might be appropriate. I wonder if the students would view this treatment of prisoners differently because they weren't American.
Blair